The Story of Fuller's Vintage Ale (Keep Cask Alive pt 5) | The Craft Beer Channel

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It's the finale of our Keep Cask Alive series, and we're visiting the brewery that made it all possible - Fuller's. Join us as we get the story behind one of the UK's most sought after beers and find out how it represents everything that's great about cask ale and traditional British brewing, but also points to where the scene can go in the future as it looks for a place in the modern brewing world.
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[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Thanks for watching this series everyone! You can sign up for updates to our UNESCO campaign right here: mailchi.mp/4111b702a39f/keep-cask-alive-sign-up

[@mattnorman4007]

Genuinely a bit saddened the series is over 😢 more mini docs please!

[@coreartalex6708]

I had never drink a cask before, and watching this whole series did helped me to understand what to look into when I drink my first one. Honestly thank you mates for doing this, I’m 37 and looking for my first cask this winter … I’ll keep informed

[@treyokelly9662]

Any luck?

[@alexkristensen1378]

Great series! I'm Danish and I really love cask ales. I started a brewpub in my hometown in 2019 and I'm the only place to serve local brewed cask ales in Denmark. So when in Denmark, come visit us at Fredericia Brewpub :)

[@RyanMichero]

PREACH! Having lived in London, too many Britons don't know what a unique and wonderful style of beer they have in their own backyard with cask ale. It took me too long to catch on as well, and I just happened to be living right across the Thames from the Fuller's Griffon Brewery in Chiswick at the time. There's absolutely nothing like true British cask ale. Keep spreading the word, boys!

[@TertiaryBrewing]

Really like most years of Vintage Ale, I tend to get at least 3 bottles each year, one for this Christmas, one for next Christmas and one to build up a vertical for my next round number birthday.

[@Jango1989]

Great series! I hope you do more and more; especially the documentaries. I loved your American documentary. As a cask ale drinker, I whole heartedly support your efforts! Hopefully we get Unesco status!

[@aaronredding7050]

I was waiting for this one! Cheers from México, lads!

[@ct9737]

The first time I had Cask in Syracuse NY it was at a English Style Pub in downtown Syracuse Calle Clark’s Ale House,They only served one sandwich and a great cheese menu and had four to five beers on tap at all times including one cask beer offering.The first cask I had was Fullers and it mad a big expression on me and from that point on I was a cask fan !

[@hardyardsbrewers1225]

Well that was brilliant, Fullers! I've had a Fullers ESB here in New Zealand!! So cool to see such a traditional brewery putting as much care, passion and experimentation in to their beer as a little small brewery would. Also really nice that the brewers talk to all of the staff, even if it has to be over a few pints to loosen lips haha, about the beer. People are the most important ingredient in beer after all! 😎 thanks so much for the journey Guys, it's just the beginning... cheers! Mike from Forgotten 43 Brewery here in New Zealand 🍻🍻🍻🤙

[@chrisz8532]

Coopers Brewery is a family owned brewery here in South Australia for just over 150years. By pommy standards probably a very young brewery. Coopers launch a ‘ Vintage’ every year and hold a degustation event for the launch. I was lucky enough to get an invitation and I must say, it was an awesome day out. The vintage is highly sought after. If you’re lucky enough to live here, get on it 👍🍻🇦🇺

[@oscarosullivan4513]

I have seen Coopers for sale in some places in Ireland.

[@CcoronaMoreno]

I have in my cellar a 2013, 2014, 2015 Vintage, the importer stopped bringing it them to Mx, we just get L Porter, L Pride, IPA and Black Cab, sometimes 1845. Fuller's is one pf the breweries that changed my perspective of beer back in 2005.

[@wenkrush]

I just discovered your channel a week or two ago. You have great content and this series was just fantastic. Here in the States, cask beer is uncommon. Some craft breweries will keep one cask tap, but I wish more of them would. Keep up the great work. Cheers from Texas.

[@vikramjitsingh4538]

Wanted to hit the like button twice, but it registers just once........thanks for making this video and showing us Fullers. Cask ale is truly a british heritage style and none of the big macro breweries of the world can make such an authentic style and experience for the customer........save cask ale........cheers

[@actnsaybel7418]

Great series guys. Cask ale should be protected and I love the UNESCO idea. Cask ale is lively. It's vibrant. And, so full of flavour. From the different malts and hops, each brewer has their own recipes that make it possible for a huge variety of taste buds. Glad you did a piece on the Vintage Ale. I am a huge Fullers Vintage Ale fan. Usually buy a couple of boxes of the stuff every year. The Fullers Vintage Ale is a great beer for a cool crisp fall/winter night, and we get a few of those here in Canada. Cheers guys. Good job!

[@93mimis]

Even before the video had ended I ordered some Vintage ales online 😁😁

[@kenbanana4466]

What a great series! This deserves to be shown to the masses so we can realise the importance of cask ale. I will try to do my bit. Good work guys. I'm off to the pub.

[@neilboulton9813]

Excellent series gents, as it is well worth shouting this amazing British product from the rooftops. I also think the UNESCO idea is inspired and a way for both the world and our own governments to actually consider ways to protect and actively support it.

[@drewmack1709]

Was very happy to find some Fullers Vintage at my local liquor store here in Canada (at huge expense). My local breweries have an amazing array of pale ales and craft beers but there’s nothing quite like a decent cask ale.

[@jonasn6784]

Guys, thank you so much for this series! It increased my love for cask ale even more (never thought that this was possible) Cheers and all the best to you from the bottom of my heart.

[@mouldman144]

I’ve really enjoyed this series and my interest in cask has certainly returned! However, to do a series on cask and not visit east anglia is nothing short of criminal! I shall have to cry in to my pint of Southwold and/or Wherry! Keep up the excellent content gents 👌🏻

[@HOLDSWATH]

Really hope it comes to Canada again this year, I have the 2017 and 2018 aging nicely. Excellent series gents! 🍻

[@Benjamin-xh5hj]

I have bought a bottle of this every year since I got into beer. Believe 2018 was my first. Will definantly be buying a few bottles this year. Save one drink one. I’ve got a 2020 in cupboard, already drank my 2018 and 2019 after a year of aging each.

[@mattbeerguerrilla9717]

What a fantastic series guys. Cask Ale needs content like this, viewing it through the lens of a younger demographic. Cask is absolutely a tradition, but it is in danger and a huge factor to that is it’s perception. I couldn’t think of anyone more qualified than you two to make Cask cool again 😉 🍻🍻

[@oscarosullivan4513]

A lot of it’s advocates don’t help the cause though.

[@stevelewis199]

Absolutely brilliant series!! I've really enjoyed watching every episode. The traditions of making and serving cask definately needs to be kept alive. It's everything for so many people. It's not just the beer it's memories for the older generation drinking with friends and families. Thank you guys for making something incredibly special to watch.

[@stevemiceter07]

I have recently moved to London and I have only ever drank cask ale. I am the king of cask

[@TheGrimbarianBrewer]

Loved watching this series on cask ale, it's one style of beer I love and I just love the whole idea of using a handpull and I ended up buying one after watching your video of using one at home and I hope one day to cask some of my ales too. Cheers 🍺🍻

[@TeaAndTunes]

Excellent series gents! I’ve worked in cask ale pubs for 10+ years, and it really is a magnificent, uniquely British thing. I’m glad of the rise of craft (personally, and also ‘a rising tide raises all ships!’) but the wonderful variety and complexity of ale is a never-ending journey I’ll happily take. You’ve done it proud 💪🏻

[@ATL-xi7lo]

Terrific series guys. Learned a good deal about cask ale and tradition around it. It also encourages me to explore traditional British beer offerings as well. Sadly, between the boom in hard seltzers and hazy IPA's taking shelf space, I'm seeing less and less imported beer in my area of the U.S. But we do have some local breweries that crank out a Mild or ESB from time to time. Who knows, maybe well see more cask ale in the U.S. soon too. Cheers!

[@JAG214]

Your videos seem like something I would see on PBS here in the states

[@christophermurphy9136]

Brilliant series. Cask ales are not that common here in the States, but when a pub has 1 or 2 on hand we the beer geeks get pretty excited. Would love if it would become more available here.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Same with Ireland

[@ferntreemusic]

great series!

[@aaoa666]

Really loved this series guys, your passion truly shines through! As a swede, cask ale isn't really a staple or a classic around here, but here is one pub in Gothenburg that I always visit when I go there that serves cask beer, and is one of few in sweden to be certified to serve it as well! I was really surprised with just HOW tasty it was when I first tried proper cask, and the lower ABV (traditionally) of the styles also makes it so pleasant to just be able to sit for hours without getting absolutely hammered. Again, you guys are doing the lords work with this channel and Thanet has definitively been added to my list of places to visit in Britain!

[@oscarosullivan4513]

What is the name of this pub

[@LP290792]

Great series! Some of your best work and think the UNESCO idea is excellent. Best of luck 🍻

[@rickardxify]

Fantastic series! Such great work. Cask has been important for me and I always seek it out when available here in Finland. This series has made me even more aware of the magic of cask.

[@mynameisnotcory]

Ive gone down the rabbit hole called your channel but i still think this series is one of the best! Keep it up guys! Cant wait for the book to come back in stock so i can read it soon! Cheers from texas

[@ric_a5]

Lovely series that covered some really interesting stories thanks for the work you've put into it. As a fan of cask it does feel like it's getting harder to find, though saying this I was on holiday to a few places around the UK recently and stopped in Marlborough for a few days where I felt like a kid in a candy shop. Will definitely planning a cycle north of the river to pop into the Southampton Arms and the Old Fountain when I've got a free weekend too.

[@rodeleon2875]

i've brewed my own vintage ales every year for many years. both an old ale and an imperial stout. it is really interesting to taste them over the years.

[@onecheesey]

Wonderful passion in an excellent series guys. Keep up the good work both in cask & craft & hopefully the future of UK beer is a bright one. Cheers 👍👍👍

[@davidspoerry6188]

A beautiful series boys, really a top piece of work, you should be proud

[@jonathanpearceff]

I have Vintage Ale from 2011 to 2021 in my beer store. I buy three bottles from each year. If I remember (I know that sounds strange but I forgot last year) I drink one bottle of the new batch and then save the others for another time. Maybe I am a bit obsessive about having a nice collection all lined up in the boxes. I must admit I am not a massive Fuller's fan and always avoid London Pride as I just don't like the taste (I find it too metallic for some reason), but I did do the brewery tour a few years ago and in the tap room at the end I did tell the guide that I was drinking the best London Pride I have ever tasted. I haven't touched a drop of it since!!! Great series on cask beer though - must have been fun filming it.

[@SlurpyDave254]

Great ending to a nice series. Been drinking cask beer all my life n its nice to see you lads helping to secure its future, slurp👍

[@richardfairclough3863]

Loved this series so much, thanks for putting it out there. The UNESCO idea is so good, and I will fully support that! What was the pub you had the Vintage Ale on cask called?

[@nickforlano7450]

Get it protected!! Cheers!!!

[@J0nnyGT]

Great series and hope the goal of more cask ales become more popular and in the front of beer geeks minds. Sadly the new U.K. taxation might further put people off especially the stronger ales

[@dannyganelin9777]

Great series lads! Made be want to jump on an airplane and fly to London for a pint down at the Harp.

[@garethvenables9607]

Great series, have really enjoyed watching it, probably one of the best produced things I've ever seen on KZbin, keep up the good work.

[@lolamby1]

Dude, "The closure of our pubs..." whilst showing The Fountain in Shoreditch made my heart jump (!).

[@xander1052]

Absolutely adore Vintage ale, might have to try it on cask now :D

[@aethellstan]

Another terrific job chaps, very enjoyable. I realise this is slightly off topic but it is Fullers related. Many years ago I use to go sea fishing off Brighton. I enjoyed many a pint of Gales bitter. I later found out they had been bought out by Fullers and the brewery closed with the recipe being used to make HSB. I look for HSB whenever I visit a Fullers pub and can never find it. Please ask them what they've done with one of my old favourites and why it's never on anywhere. (when I say anywhere, it's mainly central London Fullers pubs) p.s. I'm enjoying a Weird Beard "Pucker the pain away", not normally into sours but couldn't resist a beer with a picture of my daughter on the can!

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Haha not sure we have the sway but we do see HSB around in London! I also know that some Gales Prize Old Ale is still in tank at Dark Star....

[@eltonlee1980]

Great to see your channel , very appreciated for the videos for keeping cask alive. Our business is related with them and we do want them live well and hope more and more young people back to support their local brewery.

[@mrougelot]

Fantastic series. If you had told me you would do a series on cask I would have thought it is a step down from the epicness of, say, the New England one, but it turned out amazing, and not only because the topic has much more depth than we give it credit, but also because of your efforts behind it: storytelling, editing...top notch stuff guys.

[@MRW3455]

Bravo - I could not agree more with everything you have said across this series. You have my full support.

[@martingfarrell]

What was the “pub down the road” from the brewery? I’m going to be in London next weekend and would love to check it out. Loved, loved, loved this series. 🍻

[@daftmunk]

Machine House Brewery in Seattle is the one place in the US I know of doing cask conditioned beers. Certainly worth a visit if you are in the area.

[@callumstott4806]

Absolutely wonderful series with a great message. Cheers to that and congrats 🍻

[@kennyr2744]

I love it. My local bottle shop in Northern California gets Fuller's Vintage Ale in bottles every other year so I get it whenever I can.

[@viktorshakhmatov3519]

Thank you so much! That was a fantastic journey ! So well-made! Keep on! Cheers from KAZAKHSTAN!

[@mattmcleary739]

Well done boys! Enjoyed the series, looking forward to the next one! I now will be keeping an eye on the cask ales available near me!

[@Jaap-Relou]

Wowwwww what a climaxxxx 🍻🥳❤️ epic journey you took us on and I am forever thankful for this. It opened up my vision about beer and the heritage. Next time in England I’m going to double down on cask 🍻 cheers from Amsterdam

[@downsideup119]

This series has been great guys. Thanks for the awesome content.

[@davidellis6468]

I sense a much bigger story about cask beer, though fantastic work from the CBC team for this short series. I'd happily watch a much longer series on the telly, it's that good. Big TV companies take note.

[@rayd.295]

You are so lucky to have cask ale. hope you can keep it going as well as your traditional pubs. i can rarely find cask ale in the US. and of course we have bars rather than pubs.

[@Kveiksmithdaryl]

Just binged the entire series and loved it! I learnt so much from this and I’m very excited about my next opportunity to drink cask!

[@richardsmith2317]

The Thor End Gentleman's club loved the series boys! Skàl!😁🍺🍻🤟

[@thetommyandbobbyshow]

Loveeeee Vintage Ale!! Thanks for another rad video guys!! Keep 'em coming! Still would love to have you on as guests on our beer show. Cheers!

[@richharper8159]

To celebrate this series I think I'll drink a Vintage 2016 as I have two. Then soon (with help) drink the other 2013-2018s.

[@wellyftw]

Yeah, I’ve got a couple of 2016s too. I’m keeping each one until they’re 10 years old and then I’ll drink each one as they get to that age. I’ve got all of them from 2012 to 2020.

[@steventhompson9319]

Well, I'll be getting this at Christmas, so job done, lads. Great series. Cheers!

[@EnglishLevy]

Finally hit me what this series intro music reminds me of - Jessica! ...Beer Gear 🍻

[@DavidFSloneEsq]

This is been a truly great series. Thank you. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure that the future of cask lies in cask hard seltzer. That was a terrible attempt at a joke. My apologies.

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

A "truly" dystopian future.

[@DavidFSloneEsq]

@@TheCraftBeerChannel Isn’t preserving the culture of real ale something that your Prince Chuck has expressed an interest in? Surely he knows someone at UNESCO.

[@cartiernt1981]

UNESCO is such a great and exciting idea!!! Hope this happens!! I've signed up!

[@davidellis6468]

Re-watching this again and blown away with the professionalism and high level infotainment, but one question comes to mind with the interview with Guy. How many experimental batches do they make of each years batch before they go into full production?

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

As far as I know, none! But each one is close enough that the new versions are only tweaks of the last one... so to answer it another way... they've done a test batch each year since 1997!

[@r-pats]

Excellent idea, good luck!

[@76phat]

Brilliant series lads really enjoyed it, much love from NZ

[@lucasbeduschi.]

Beautiful !

[@robinjones6999]

This series is better than the rubbish the BBC pump out - well filmed

[@southsidepsycho8336]

Great, great series!!! Thank you so much.

[@Kazaii64]

Great finale. I wish Cask was more prevalent here in Canada. But I guess that's something the UK should really boast for tourism, as you noted with the UNESCO filing.

[@philcole2131]

Throughout this series there are many points well made and its great to see the enthusiasm from all involved.... We shall be ending our tenancy in February after building an award winning Real ale pub out of a rundown shell that had been turned into a Chinese restaurant for 18 years.... I maintain my love and enthusiasm for cask and would offer my knowledge and expertise to anyone who would wish to go down this route, however I think it wouldn't be a business idea as I know of nobody who would value it (financially)... Brewery courses are half a day and are more health and safety and signing off forms than developing a quality product.... I'm not looking to stay in the industry or to making a business from training, my point is cask craft knowledge is not valued.... I'm going back to my all grain homebrew and build a big old bar in my garden.. A very enjoyable series and channel that I'm always happy to see and it always gives me a little lift in spirits seeing what others are doing.... Great work..... You should be on the telly

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Hey Phil - thanks so much for the comment, and really sorry to hear you're leaving the industry. There is definitely a huge issue that being a publican isn't worth the work that goes in. I hope our campaign can be part of that changing along with lots of other work we're doing behind the scenes.

[@philcole2131]

@@TheCraftBeerChannel you really are making a difference by enthusing people.... Best wishes for the channel.... I won't be in the business but will stay on the fringe

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@philcole2131 I wish you the best Health and Safety training makes sense but dedicate separate training days for developing quality beer and how to brew said beer safely.

[@viper29ca]

Great series guys!

[@sonicfactory-uk]

Awesome series!

[@GabrielYeager]

Loved this series. Well done!

[@TheCraftBeerChannel]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@TheCraftBeerChannel Could you do a series in Ireland. Maybe another one about saving mid ales (Brown ales, dark milds and Irish red ales).

[@dylanjonesbragdybachhomebrew]

Well done boys!

[@WESTMALLEMAN]

Vintage ale is usually available on cask in October at selected pubs in London but I haven't been able to find it this year, anyone come across it yet? I know it is available in bottle and I usually stock up in Waitrose.

[@notesfromafar]

Brilliant series chaps. Well done!

[@bryandodds7277]

A great end to the series, really enjoyed it. I'm continually amazed that people have the vocabulary to describe beer - apricots, Christmas pudding, it's only when people mention then I recognise them. I was enjoying some cask ale from Harvieston brewery last weekend, its a small support haha

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Lidl Custard creams, blackberries and slightly buttery caramel with a hint of hazelnuts and wethers original in the case of Sullivan’s Brewing Company’s red ale.

[@MarceloBassist]

keep the good work. Amazing series

[@ChaingunCassidy]

Excellent documentary, I really wish there was more of a cask ale tradition here in Australia but that seems to have died in the 70's and 80's when air conditioning got better and cheaper and ice cold keg lager became king.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Cask beer died out in 1973 till the late 1990’s in Ireland. Even then before Keg’s bottled ales were more common.

[@WWCLife]

Cracking series. Top work.

[@jdmlong]

Great series, you guys do really good work.

[@bennolan6802]

Lovely stuff. Of course I now really want a pint of Vintage Ale on cask. Will we get a vid of the vertical tasting?

[@TheJohnnyh61]

This series of vids have been superb.

[@davidhatton729]

Great series, really enjoyed watching.

[@lassekarlsson5385]

will opening my 2021 this weekend

[@samward4187]

Great series. Thanks fellas

[@kevinlouth4593]

This is absolutely brilliant. Well done.

[@kevinroome8286]

Hi lads, I do love watching your show's, I do love what I call REAL ALE, I would love to try FULLERS VINTAGE ALE, but I cannot find it anywhere 😢. I always drink FULLERS 1845🍻 what a FANTASTIC ALE it is, so tasty and refreshing 🤪🇬🇬🇬🇧

[@erehwon80]

This has been an excellent series guys. I hope you can keep cask alive well into the future. I have rarely had the opportunity to have cask beers, being that few breweries in Oz do them. Although there is a brewery in Brisbane run by a Pom (a mad genius) which does.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

Which brewery?

[@erehwon80]

@@oscarosullivan4513 Bacchus Brewing in Brisbane.

[@oscarosullivan4513]

@@erehwon80 Thanks

[@Big-Harry]

Been an excellent series

[@davidsilva-eo2bs]

great series